Please be aware that there are many fraudulent companies in the Republic of Crimea that offer foreigners their services for certain payment, e.g., provision of ready-made migration cards which can be purchased, placing stamps in passports, taking passports to the border without the need for the passport holder to be present in person.
Here are 3 reasons from V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University which could encourage you not to use their services ever:
- A bought ready-made migration card is never registered with the Federal Migration Service database.
It means you won’t be able to get any permit in Russia in a legal way. To obtain any sort of permit (notification of registration with the Federal Migration Service, visa, work permit, etc.) a foreign national must be issued with a migration card registered with the Federal Migration Service database bearing information regarding the period of the foreigner’s temporary stay in the Russian Federation.
- Both a migration card and a notification of registration with the Federal Migration Service are the primary documents checked out by legal enforcement officers along with a foreigner’s passport. A foreign national found to have a fake migration card shall face immediate deportation from the Russian Federation and an entry ban.
- It is cheaper to obtain an authentic migration card than buy a fake one.
Migration card is a document issued free of charge at the border cross points to foreign nationals to be filled in by them. Migration cards are required to be presented at border control points for identity check.
If no violations are identified, the migration card and passport are stamped with date and place of border crossing, which are instantly submitted to the Federal Migration Service database.
Remember, it is to your advantage to have authentic valid documents in your hands!
Top 5 violations of the rules governing stay and work in the Russian Federation that foreign nationals commit:
- Violations of the limitations on the period of stay
Foreign nationals who are visiting Russia via a visa-free regime are permitted to stay in Russia for a period of up to 90 days in a six-month period. During this period a foreign national can obtain a document that would allow them to stay in the country for a longer period without exiting. Among such documents are patents, temporary residence permits, or employment contracts (for nationals of certain countries). Foreign nationals are required to exit the country for 3 months before the expiration of this 90-day period if they have not obtained any of the aforementioned documents. Upon the expiry of 3-month period, foreign nationals are allowed to come and stay in Russia for another 90 days.
Violations of the limitations on the period of stay are punished by the following administrative fines and punishments:
- 1 to 90 days – an administrative fine of RUR 2,000 to 7,000, deportation, and an entry ban for up to 3 years;
- up to 180 days – an administrative fine of RUR 7,000 and an entry ban for up to 5 years;
- up to 270 days – an administrative fine and an entry ban for up to 10 years.
- Violations of time limits for migration registration
According to the federal legislation, foreign nationals residing in the V.I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University’s dorms are required, within 24 hours of their every arrival in the Russian Federation (to the place of study), to apply to the International Centre (to the staff member responsible for international affairs and international students) to obtain migration registration.
Foreign nationals not residing in the University’s dorms are required to register with the Federal Migration Service by themselves within 7 working days of the day of arrival and submit the copy of the notification of registration with the Federal Migration Service to the International Centre (to the staff member responsible for international affairs and international students).
In case the foreign national fails to meet the time limits and/or to register with the Federal Migration Service, they shall face an administrative fine and an entry ban for 3 to 10 years.
- Registration at the address where a foreign national is actually not a resident
Russian law requires foreigners to register only at the address where they actually reside.
If it is discovered that a foreigner is not in residence at the address they have been registered at, their temporary registration shall be canceled and they may face a fine and deportation.
- A foreign national doesn’t have a health insurance certificate
According to the federal legislation, foreign nationals are required to have a valid health insurance certificate regardless of the length and purpose of their stay in Russia.
International students are required to obtain a health insurance certificate with a validity term of 1 year within 3 calendar days from the day of arrival at the university.
There are many fraudulent insurance companies in the Republic of Crimea that offer health insurance certificates to foreigners at low prices with no regard for the coverage or insurance plan details.
Gostevoi (Guest), Trudovoi Migrant (Labour Migrant), and Migrant-3 insurance plans do not meet the requirements under which a foreigner is allowed to stay in the Russian Federation as a student.
International students enter into insurance agreements with duly licensed insurance companies on their own behalf for Inostrannyi Student (International student) insurance plan.
International students are required to obtain a health insurance certificate until September 15 every following year, and pass a medical examination in accordance with the procedure established by the university.
If it is discovered that a foreigner doesn’t have the said documentation, they shall face a fine of up to RUR 7,000 and may face deportation for a violation of the Russian Federation legislation.
- Working without a work permit
To be allowed to work in Russia foreign nationals have to obtain a number of documents, including:
1) A document providing a foreign national with the right to work in the Russian Federation (work permit, patent, temporary residence permit);
2) SNILS (a personal number given by the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation for social security of its citizens);
3) INN (Taxpayer Identification Number);
4) Health Insurance Certificate.
If it is discovered that a foreign national doesn’t have the said documentation, they shall face a fine of up to RUR 7,000 and may face deportation.
